ELYRIA, Ohio – Lorain County sheriff's deputies are trying to determine if an Avon Lake man brought a cane with a stun gun attached to its end into a court hearing earlier this month.

The woman who requested the hearing and her lawyer said William Schuffert, 61 brought a "stun cane" into the courthouse Aug. 1 and had it with him during the hearing. In a partial transcript of the hearing provided to the Northeast Ohio Media Group, Schuffert appears to confirm that his cane has a stun gun on the end.

Schuffert implies his cane has a stun gun on the end in testimony about a June 21 confrontation between him and another man.

"I got a regular cane and I got this stun cane," he said, according to the transcript. "I didn't have this one, unfortunately (during the confrontation)."

Everyone who enters the Lorain County Common Pleas Court, where the hearing took place on Aug. 1, must pass through a metal detector and all their possessions are sent through an X-ray.

Sgt. Jim Drozdowski of the Lorain County Sheriff's Office said the deputy working security at the courthouse Aug. 1 told investigators he ran Schuffert's cane through the X-ray, but didn't see anything that indicated there was a stun gun on the end.

The Sheriff's Office keeps video of everything that passes through the X-ray, Drozdowski said in a telephone interview. Technical problems caused by a power outage at the courthouse last week have made viewing the recordings difficult.

Investigators are taking statements from several witnesses, including Schuffert, and a police report will be available as soon as their investigation is finished, he said.

Drozdowski said the sheriff's office hopes to conclude the investigation this week.

Magistrate Stephen Vanik, who oversaw the Aug. 1 hearing, said Schuffert brought the stun cane into the hearing. The judge said he couldn't comment further until the sheriff's office finishes its investigation.

A lawyer who represented Schuffert in the hearing did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Trudy Keuthel of Avon Lake told the Northeast Ohio Media Group she requested the protection order hearing because Schuffert has been threatening her.

She said he has also harassed several of her female neighbors and she is beginning to feel unsafe in her own home.

"I thought about moving out, but I shouldn't have to leave my home because of someone else," she said.

In the partial transcript, however, Schuffert said he only reacts when Keuthel and other women who live nearby give him dirty looks.

Lt. Scott Fishburn of the Avon Lake Police Department said Keuthel's boyfriend, Greg Beck, was charged with assault and Schuffert was charged with disorderly conduct after the June 21 incident.

Keuthel said her boyfriend was standing up for her, but in court transcripts, Schuffert said Beck was the aggressor.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.